674 
Birds of Celebes: Megapodidae. 
eggs are often placed among the roots of a tree, and this makes them very 
difficult to get at. A good many leaves are plucked and placed in the hole, 
and amongst these the egg is laid. The leaves would ferment and so assist in 
hatching the eggs, which are of a pale salmon -colour with a chalky surface, 
which is easily chipped off.” 
“The young birds’ early life is to me a mystery. It may he dug out of 
the heap fully fledged and ready to fly . . . The young are neither fed nor 
looked after by their parents, which, as they are of all ages, would be difficult. 
They generally squat until you are within 15 yards or so and then take wing- 
like a Quail, never running out of danger like the old birds”. 
There is a great charm in the idea of thus awaking into life, as capable 
of enjoying it as a child of ten! Prof. W. Blasius has stated (in a lecture) 
that he once was watching an egg of the allied Talegallus-Yiexi-, presently it 
cracked, and out came a chick, which flew straight up on to a perch; and 
the observation has been made by other naturalists on that species (Gld., HB. 
B. Austr. 1865, II, 153). Mr. Wallace records a very similar observation on 
the Moleo, and Dr. Stride r on M. frcycineti (Reise Gazelle 1889, HI, 253), and 
we believe the same condition will be found to exist in most Megapodes. The 
